Diagnosing a Growth Problem Your pediatrician or the staff at your community clinic will keep a check on your child’s development and growth, and so it is important to keep regular appointments so that any problems can be quickly spotted. While weight and height are predominantly guided by genetic factors, you should consider contacting a physician or endocrinologist (specialist in the area of growth disorders) if you suspect any serious problems or if your child’s growth rate seems to be drastically falling behind peers. Children tend to remain along a similar growth pattern, and if this pattern changes considerably it could be a sign of an underlying condition.

Encouraging Natural Child Growth Children generally grow to their genetic height potential with little outside assistance. What parents can do to help their child’s optimal growth and development is to create the best possible environment for this growth to take place. Normal growth depends on sufficient nutrition and a healthy lifestyle that includes a balanced and healthy diet, adequate sleep (free of sleep disorders or sleep problems) with most children needing between 10 and 12 hours per night, and regular exercise. If your child is concerned about being too short or too tall, try to explain that everyone is different and that each person is exactly the right height for themselves. This can help children accept this unique quality as a part of who they are. Being shorter or taller than peers can be difficult for youngsters who want to fit in, and can create added anxiety or stress, so assure them that it is no more different than them having different color eyes to the next child. Also ensure that you address issues of teasing at school and avoid drawing additional attention to the matter. Chances are that your child will soon catch up or balance out with peers by the time puberty is reached.

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